Hi Ranjit. I would say the fun is. Designing and making your own layout, Once your first bit of track is down you can run trains while continuing to build the layout, My layout started in 1985 and in am now adding a further extension. Building is part of the hobby for me.

as David suggests, the most fun of this hobby is the journey of discovery in designing and building it.

I also suspect that finding someone in India to do this may be tricky.... not because there is a shortage of people, but because German train modelling interest seems low.

Edited by user 17 October 2021 21:08:48(UTC)  | Reason: typo

Or a five year job...

Ian.

If there is a model railway club nearby some of the members might be willing to help.

Hi Ranjit
Yes, to build the layout with them may be fun but IMO having it made for you is no fun because it will remain like it is instead of evolving.
The price may be much higher but maybe you don't care
Cheers
Jean

HI Ranjit,I suspect you've got it all figured out. All you need is HANDS to speed things up.
I do not see a problem there at all as long as the help don't put you off track.(pun intended}
I wish you the best of luck in your endeavor and look forward to progress reports as presented
by others on this great forum.
Warm regards
J

sounds like a club layout.

Hey John...

My layout will not be as extensive as yours and it will not be "evolving" to a great extent. Of course, there will be some additions here and there as time moves on.

Like you, I too feel that I am disadvantaged when it comes to model railroad digital technology. And, this is one big reason why I need a professional who can quickly understand what needs to get done. Although, my layout plan comes from the 60s when everything was analogue, I intend to "digitize" the layout alongside a smaller section in analogue to remind me of the "good old days".

Good point about the "50 Märklin enthusiasts", John ! Although, the membership of Märklin India is around 50, there are only a handful of them who are really active model railroaders. I will be mostly working with the few who will enjoy working on building a layout with me, and I hope that they will not be expecting any "bonuses" from me.

Good night !

Ranjit

Hi David...

When I dismantled my analogue layout some years ago in Malaysia, my plan was to set-up a new one in India and build it from the ground up all by myself. At that time, I did not realize how difficult it is to source items in India and how frustrating it is to deal with the authorities to import even a small accessory. This lead me to start thinking seriously about hiring a professional specialized in building model railroading layouts from the European region and working with them alongside local artisans to build my "dream" layout. The whole idea of bringing experienced modellers to Chennai for short periods of time is also to organize high-end scratch modelling "paid workshops" for model railroad enthusiasts around the country in order to recoup expenses, and furthermore, to help in bringing along some stuff / modelling materials along with them to save on exorbitant customs duties and taxes. I am currently in the process of shortlisting some names and I hope to get started with the engagement by June 2022. In the meantime, I am getting my finances ready for this project. Budgeting is so important in an endeavour like this.

The layout is medium-sized requiring a space of 415 sq. ft. (~40 sq. m.). This layout will be styled exclusively on the German railroad during Eras III & IV to recreate a sense of nostalgia and feature some of the things that I remember during my stay in Germany as a youngster and as a young adult. I wish to incorporate passenger terminals, freight storage yards, steam locomotive servicing facility, electric locomotive storage areas, a brewery and lots of small villages with many tunnels and bridges. I will be using Märklin K-track flex rails in order to make life much more simpler in terms of appearance, realism and for building curves freely. There will be a good mix of freight and passenger traffic in the layout. Interestingly, I would also like to have a layout within a layout utilizing my collection of M-track (possibly a mine train), and a lovely cable car system from the Austrian Alps. I would like this layout to become well known in India and one that will bring lots of joy and happiness, not only to me and my family, but to everyone else who come to visit. I am so excited already to embark on this wonderful journey.

There is a lot of work ahead of me to build this layout, and I hope to wrap it up latest by the end of 2024. I will be 70 years of age by then ! Surely, I will be keeping all of you abreast of all the developments.

Take care and stay safe.

Cheerio !
Ranjit

On the contrary, AK ! In my professional life as a businessman, I have "imported" services many a time and I have not had any issues at all. It is important to build credibility and reputation on both sides and to come out of the arrangement with a "win-win". The close knit relationship that ensues and the regular and the strong personal connections will remain true for a very long time no matter the challenge. No doubt, all this will require a good budget and the readiness and ability to use it effectively.

Take care and stay safe.

Cheerio !
Ranjit

I am bypassing the Indian Administration. It is between the service providers who have a specialized knowledge about niche areas of interest (in this case model railroading) and me. In this scenario, there is great amount of "knowledge exchange" that takes place. I have experienced it first hand.

By the way, what are you exporting to India, AK ?

Cheerio !
Ranjit

Hi Ak...

Not only has your export business "faded" in the previous millennium, but the whole country has begun to fade rapidly in the 21st. century under the leadership of Sri Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India. I don't know if you have read the horrific news about "Lakhimpur Kheri" recently or if it was even mentioned in the international press. Google it and you find more. The PM had not said a word about this incident. That should tell you volumes of where the country is headed and the oppression under which we are all "still" living. Jai Hind !! (in contemporary colloquial usage, it means: Long Live India !)

Cheerio !
Ranjit